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Stevens, John Harrington "J.H."

House 1857-58 (District 18); Senate 1859-60 (District 18); House 1862 (District 6); House 1876 (District 26)

Party when first elected:  Not Available

Counties Served:  Carver, Hennepin, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Monongalia (defunct), Renville, Sibley, Wright

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 6/13/1820
Birth Place: Brompton Falls, Quebec
Birth County:
Birth Country: Canada
Date of Death: 5/28/1900
Gender: Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names: J.H.
City of Residence (when first elected): Glencoe
Occupation (when first elected): Farmer/Merchant/Editor/Historian

EDUCATION

Common Schools; Elementary School;
Wisconsin Public Schools; Elementary School;
Illinois Public Schools; Secondary;

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

County Government: Hennepin County, Minnesota (Register of Deeds, First One); [Dates Unknown]
Military: United States Army (Mexican-American War, Captain); 184? to 184?
State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota State Agricultural Society (Founder and President); 1854 to 18??
Military: Minnesota State Militia (Indian Uprising/Sioux War, General, Brigadier General); 1862 to 18??

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Francis Helen Miller (married on May 1 or 10, 1850)
Children: Six children: Mary Elizabeth (first white child born in Minneapolis), Catherine D., Sarah, Orma, and Frances Hellen (daughters); Gardner (son)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He came to Minnesota in 1848 or 1849 and built a house that year beside the Falls of St. Anthony. It is now located in Minnehaha Falls Park in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

He was also listed as being born in Lower Canada.

He died in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Total Days Served: 1861

SESSIONS SERVED

18th Legislative Session (1876)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 26
Elected: 11/2/1875
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/4/1876 to 1/1/1877
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Not Available
Committees:
  • Federal Relations
  • Insurance

4th Legislative Session (1862)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 06
Elected: 10/8/1861
Residence: Glencoe
Term of Office: 1/7/1862 to 1/5/1863
Counties Represented: Carver, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Monongalia (defunct), Wright
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Democratic Party Notes: He was identified as a Democrat. (St. Paul Pioneer and Democrat, January 7, 1862)
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Manufactures (Chair)
  • Federal Relations
  • Military Affairs (Chair)
  • Rules and Joint Rules

2nd Legislative Session (1859-1860)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 18
Elected: 10/11/1859
Residence: Glencoe
Term of Office: 12/7/1859 to 1/7/1861
Counties Represented: McLeod, Renville, Sibley
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Not Available
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Manufactures
  • Militia

1st Legislative Session (1857-1858)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 18
Elected: 10/13/1857
Residence: Glencoe
Term of Office: 12/2/1857 to 12/6/1859
Counties Represented: McLeod, Renville, Sibley
Occupation: Farmer/Merchant/Editor/Historian
Party: Not Available
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Manufactures (Chair)
Session Notes: He was sworn in on December 3, 1857. An 1858-59 session was not held due to the protracted session of 1857-58. (Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1872, p. 66) Thus, even though the first session was adjourned on August 12, 1858; the term end date for it is listed as the day before the second legislative session's start date.
Photographs
John Harrington Stevens of Glencoe, Member of the First State Legislature (ca. 1858) From the Minnesota Historical Society's Visual Resources Database.

Articles & Books By
Stevens, John Harrington. Personal Recollections of Minnesota and Its People, and Early History of Minneapolis. Tribune Job Printing Company, 1890.


Articles & Books About
Shutter, Marion Daniel. "John Harrington Stevens." Progressive Men of Minnesota, Minneapolis: The Minneapolis Journal, 1897, p. 416-417.


Other Media
John H. Stevens House.
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.